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DEL.ICIO.USUsed-car salesman with heart
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
He’d been a fraud investigator for three years when his boss suggested he go into business for himself. It was a nice way to tell Ron Rigdon his services were no longer needed.
One day, Rigdon and his wife, Debbie, were driving down West Pike Street in Lawrenceville when traffic slowed. Rigdon spotted a defunct car lot to his right with a “For Rent” sign.
“I looked at Debbie and said, ‘Honey, let’s sell some cars.’ ” he said. “I knew nothing about the car business.”
But this country boy, whose grandfather was the late Mack McCollough, a Lawrenceville police chief, knew how to survive.
With a $20,000 equity line, he launched Ron’s Auto Sales Inc., in 2002. He couldn’t afford to buy any vehicles so he put his 1996 Ford F-150 in the lot. (It wasn’t on the lot long. About a week, selling for $8,200.) He arranged consignment deals with folk trying to sell privately owned vehicles. A family friend who ran a used-car dealership lent Rigdon 10 cars to beef up inventory.
Today, Ron’s Auto Sales is located at 366 W. Pike St., a mere two blocks from its original location. Only difference: The Rigdons own the business.
Last week, the boss of an East Point car dealership apparently snapped and killed two employees who had been hounding him about raises. He told police he had been under a lot of financial stress.
This story got me to thinking about family-run dealerships, how they don’t have the franchise budget to rely on when business goes south. Research led me to Ron’s Auto Sales Inc., where the Badie Tour stopped Wednesday.
Ron Rigdon attributes my visit to divine intervention. He does more than sell cars, but more on that later.
The Rigdons know what it’s like to weather the ups and downs of the used-car business, an industry not for the faint or fickle.
“If you aren’t prepared for the down times — and right now, the times are slow — you’re in trouble,” Debbie Rigdon told me. “[The East Point dealer] probably didn’t have the money to pay his bills.”
And there are many to pay, noted Ron, her husband of 30 years.
“Everybody wants a piece — the parts store, the tire store, the dent repair man, the advertisers, the detailers and the auction house” that you bought the cars from, regardless of whether they sell or not.
Their business expects to sell about 250 cars this year, for a gross revenue of nearly $3 million. July’s been brutal, though. Only 17 vehicles moved.
For the record, I’ve never bought a car from Ron’s. Before venturing out Wednesday, I checked with the Georgia Better Business Bureau and found no record of customer complaints on file.
Ron Rigdon, a Clark Howard fan, abhors the gimmicks, half-truths and hagglings that take place at some franchises, practices that Mark Solheim, automotive writer for Kiplinger’s Personal Finance Magazine, says sullies the car-buying experience for the consumer and the deal-makers.
Apparently, Ron Rigdon likes helping others. He’s established Circle Heart Racing, a race team in which proceeds benefit Speedway Children’s Charities, a NASCAR-sanctioned nonprofit that supports programs for special-needs kids. Rigdon drives the car on the circuit; sponsors and donors pledge money. His 2007 goal is $10,000 and he’s right at $7,800.
“I wanted my racing to be more than just pleasure for me,” he said. “I want it to mean something.”
For more information about Speedway Children’s Charities, visit www.speedway charities.org or contact Ron Rigdon at 404-925-7350.
Rick Badie’s column appears on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. Contact him at 770-263-3875 or e-mail rbadie@ajc.com.
Permalink | Comments (12) | Post your comment | Categories: Rick Badie
Comments
By Rod
August 2, 2007 7:58 AM | Link to this
This is pathetic. I clicked on this article because the clip on the front page said: “When a helping ministry needs help.”
What’s that got to do with this article? This is nothing but Rick Badie putting in a business plug for someone. At the end of the article, a “charity” is listed - to justify the whole article.
Rick Badie - you have no journalistic integrity.
By Scott
August 2, 2007 8:08 AM | Link to this
Wow, Rod…which article were you reading? You may be referring to Monday’s link. The title of this one is Used Car Salesman with a Heart. I agree, this isn’t Pulitzer material, but ease up, man!
By Lisa
August 2, 2007 9:14 AM | Link to this
I appreciate all of Ron’s charity work and the hardwork he did to get his business off the grown.
However, I want to mention that Ron’s Auto Sales is one of the eyesores in Gwinnett County. I really do wish he would take some of the $3 million in profits that he has made and contribute to the improvement of his building. How about a nice brick office instead of the unsightly two trailers that he uses? How about a nice brick business sign?
He sits right at the entrance of the historic downtown Lawrenceville that is being revitalized to help improve property values. This is another way that Ron can give back to the community.
By Dale
August 2, 2007 9:26 AM | Link to this
Ron:
Thanks for highlighting a great story. I have to agree with the previous poster though…it would be nice if Ron gave the look of his business a little more attention. That trailer and covered carport stands out like a sore thumb compared to the new buildings being built nearby and the facelift that is being done with downtown Lawrenceville. I was shocked to see that he made $3 million dollars. His business looks like he’s struggling.
By Howell
August 2, 2007 9:45 AM | Link to this
I would like to say that this is a great story but also about a great person. I have bought over 6 vehicles for me or my family from Ron over the last 5 years. The previous 2 posters did not read the article. It states that Ron’s goal is to due more than 3 million in GROSS revenue not profit which I am sure is alot less as Ron does not have huge mark up’s on his cars. Something else not mentioned in the article is that Ron’s Auto Sales currently supports 4 Different Family’s. Ron is a great man and in time I am sure will be upgrading the buisness as needed or when he can. Would you rather have another Buy here/Pay here delearship with less ethics at that location. Give it time or just stop in and meet the man I encourge you!
By Atico
August 2, 2007 3:51 PM | Link to this
Anytime some one in the used car business can be pointed our by his good deeds I am for the recognition. The rap these guys have had over years, and rightly so, has been anything but pristine.
I for one, feel the purchasing of an outomobile is one of the most horrible experiences one encounters suring his life on earth. You enter a used car lot or an angency with apprehension of being taken advantage of, and most likely oi will be. Unfortunaely that is the way of capitalism, which rules say, “may most savvy person leave the table with the larger bank account.” It’s always “Buyer be ware” when shopping for a new or used vehicle. Believe me they are not in business to give you the biggest bang for you buck, but to give you the least for the most and make you feel that you go the best of them.
Good to hear from folks like Howell who said, “he is a great person and I have bought 6 vehicles for me and my falily over the past 5 years.” I can think of nothing more satisfying to my ears than to hear a guy that is happy with his purchase from a “used car salesman.”
By LowETz
August 2, 2007 9:00 PM | Link to this
Wow- I suppose those who are complaining about Ron’s business’s curb appeal, and lack of “giving back” to the “community” are the same ones who are doing more than the man they criticize.
This individual has built a seven figure bussiness from nothing/with nothing in three years. Statistically speaking, that in and of itself is huge. Seventy percent of all small businesses fail w/in three years.
Of that seven figure Gross figure, he is paying more in taxes in one year than the critics do in three.
He spends his own dime to finance a race team that races for those less fortunate, and precentages of the points/winnings proceeds are generously given to others less blessed.
Sounds like he’s “giving back” just fine. How do the critics compare?
As with anything good, time is the governing variable. His bling factor will come. I’m proud to have Ron and his values/ethics(and doublewide} here in L’ville. Good folks are hard to find.
/End Rant-
By Bruce Wilcox
August 2, 2007 9:24 PM | Link to this
Good rant.
By Renee
August 2, 2007 10:13 PM | Link to this
How much did “Honest” Ron Rigdon pay for this endorsement?
By RJ
August 2, 2007 10:15 PM | Link to this
The 2 negative posters show their ignorance when they do not understand the diference between gross revenue & profit. They are either jealous of someones hard work and success and/or think the world should only be as they see it, or maybe it makes them feel better about their own failures. Scary part these people vote.
By Michael H. Smith
August 3, 2007 11:06 AM | Link to this
How many articles have you written that could be construed as an advertisement piece for some local business Mr. Badie?
Rather strange to me how out of the many articles that could be construed as Ad pieces that my recollections can account for, not a one ever brought such pathetic attacks in response.
I guess Ron’s has a few unhappy competitors?
However, Mr. Badie, something you didn’t bring to fore and probably with good reason, is that “car lots” in and around Lawrenceville proper is kind of a sore spot for some folks. My take on that subject is, we could probably do without a good number of these car lots in and around Lawrenceville and we would be better off as a city after the loss.
As it appears, Ron’s wouldn’t be in that number.
“We will once again amaze the world at how, in America, ordinary people can do very extraordinary things”
Fred Thompson
By Harold
August 6, 2007 7:53 AM | Link to this
Rick Badie still supplementing his income with bribes to write “warm” articles about businesses. Pathetic.